Background: Skin barrier functions develop after birth and may be related to skin disorders in infants. We aimed to assess associations between dynamic trends of four skin barrier functional parameters in early life with infant atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods:Based on the prospective cohort MKNFOAD (NCT02889081), we examined transepidermal water loss (TEWL), stratum corneum hydration (SCH), skin pH, and sebum content at five anatomical sites (cheek, forehead, forearm, abdomen, and lower leg) in 418 term infants at birth, 42 days, and 6 months. Trend differences by sex and association with AD at age 1 year were tested using variance analyses. Associations of the parameters with AD risk were tested using discrete time survival analysis, adjusting extensive covariates including parental history of allergy, infant's sex, birth weight (kg), and delivery mode. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CIs) were reported.Results: Overall TEWL and SCH appeared trends of increase while skin surface pH and sebum content showed trends of decrease within the first six postnatal months. Sex differences were significant for sebum content only (p < 0.001). After adjustment for parental and children covariates, cheek TEWL at birth (OR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.00-1.57, p = 0.045) and 42 days (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.17-1.97, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with increased AD risk. Associations were not observed between SCH, skin pH, and sebum content at birth or 42 days with AD.Conclusions: Skin barrier functions of Chinese term infants varied nonlinearly after birth. Higher postnatal TEWL levels in early life indicate higher risk of early-onset AD.

Background: Maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy has been linked with the risk of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children, while the results were inconsistent. The objective of this study was to assess the potential association. Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured in pregnant women from the birth cohort MKFOAD. Infant AD was diagnosed according to Williams' criteria. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to examine the association of maternal serum 25(OH)D levels in the first, second, and third trimester of gestation with the risk of infant AD at first year of age. Results: In total, 121 (26.5%) of 456 infants developed AD prior to 1 year of age. In general, higher maternal serum 25(OH)D levels throughout pregnancy were associated with increased risks of AD in infants prior to 1 year of age in multivariate logistic regression models, with borderline statistical significance in the first (per ln unit increase: adjusted OR = 1.93, 95% CI: 0.96, 3.88) and second (per ln unit increase: adjusted OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 0.93, 3.19) trimester. Multivariate logistic regression models using categorical variables of maternal 25(OH)D levels by tertiles showed similar results: Infants born to mothers with serum 25(OH)D levels in the highest tertile had higher risk of AD than those with 25(OH)D in the lowest tertile. Conclusions:The present study found some evidence supporting that higher maternal 25(OH)D levels during pregnancy increased the risk of infant AD. However, the clinical implication of the findings should be limited for those with blood levels over the recommendations.

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Background: Maternal folate status is linked with the risk of allergic disorders including atopic dermatitis (AD) in children, but findings remain inconclusive. We aim to assess the relationship between maternal folate status in early gestation and earlyonset infant AD, based on a prospective mother-child cohort study. Methods: Pregnant women were recruited at 12-14 weeks of gestation. Red blood cell folate (RBC folate) and serum folate concentrations were examined at enrollment. Periconceptional folic acid supplementation was investigated through a self-administered questionnaire. The primary outcome was AD incidence before 6 months of age, diagnosed according to Williams' criteria. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate associations of maternal folate status with infant AD by adjusting parental and child covariates. Results: In total, 107 (23.4%) of 458 infants developed AD before 6 months, with more male infants affected (P = .002). Higher maternal RBC folate levels (per 100 ng/ mL) were associated with an increased risk of AD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.31). An RBC folate level ≥620 ng/mL was associated with increased infant AD by 91% (aOR 1.91, 95% CI 1.09-3.36). However, associations were not observed for maternal serum folate at early gestation or periconceptional folic acid supplement intakes. Conclusions: We provide the first evidence that higher maternal RBC folate concentrations during early gestation are associated with increased early-onset infant AD. Our findings support the importance of maintaining appropriate folate levels during the periconceptional period to reduce the risk of AD in infants.

Objectives: Whether the direct aspiration approach of thrombectomy for recanalization in patients with acute ischemic stroke has a similar efficacy and safety compared to the stent-retriever still remains uncertain. Methods: A retrospective data analysis was performed to identify patients with large cerebral artery acute ischemic stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy. The study was conducted between January 2018 and December 2019 in a single stroke center. Results: Twenty patients met inclusion criteria for this study with a mean age 66.64 AE 17.92 years' old. The symptom occurred on the left side were in 13, and the right side in 7. The location of occlusion was 8 in M1 of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), 6 in M2, and 6 in internal carotid artery. Nine patients were randomized to first-line treatment with contact aspiration and eleven to first-line treatment with a stent retriever. The mean time from admission time to groin puncture was 55.51 AE 31.03 minutes. The average time from groin puncture to maximal revascularizion after mechanical thrombectomy was 50.9 AE 22.5 minutes in contact aspiration group, but this time was 71.37 AE 25.45 minutes in the group of stent retriever. The overall successful revascularization rate (TICI 2b-3) was 88.9% in contact aspiration (TICI2a ¼ 1, TICI 2b ¼ 4 patients, TICI 3 ¼ 4 patients), and 90.1% in stent retriever (TICI2a ¼ 1, TICI 2b ¼ 6 patients, TICI 3 ¼ 4 patients). Discussion: First-line thrombectomy with contact aspiration did not result in a higher successful revascularization rate at the end of the procedure but had a short time from groin puncture to maximal revascularizion.